Wall St. Week: The Magna Carta ON TOUR!

September 18, 2009

The Magna Carta, signed in 1215 by King John of England, was the foundation of Constitutional law and — in a stunning reversal of milennia of feudal ownership by the king of all your virgin daughters — declared that the king’s powers were under, rather than above, the law.

The Magna Carta led to the development of the writ of habeas corpus. It animated the English Civil War (which led to an unfortunate Puritan interregnum in which theater and eyeshadow were punishable by death, Taliban-style, but which ultimately led to further constraints on power of the monarchy) and the Glorious Revolution. It is written on fancy paper in a time before indenting your paragraphs was common.

The Magna Carta is coming on tour to a restaurant on Wall St (warning: this link has sound).

This is no ordinary restaurant; a small plaque on its side explains that Washington and his men plotted the Revolution within its walls. But still. The Magna Carta’s arrival is being heralded with this rather sad sign, purchased from the sort of sign store where one buys a sign that says “Kentucky’s Best Prom Dresses Inside!” or “Girl Scout Cookies: Troop 1517″ or “USED CARS 4 LESS.”

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Fraunces Tavern’s website contains this photo from the Lincoln Cathedral, the Magna Carta’s usual home, showing King John being reprimanded, which “captures the spirit of Magna Carta.”

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Of course, he’s being reprimanded by the Church, which is hardly an improvement. In the 1200s, it was probably preferable to risk occasionally being conscripted into a war of personal vanity or beheaded so your wife could be had as a mistress than to end up tied to a stake every time Olde Brittania changed its mind about the Sacraments or what translation of the Bible to use.

Posted by jen | Filed Under Jen says, Wall St. 

Comments

6 Responses to “Wall St. Week: The Magna Carta ON TOUR!”

  1. Anthony Wellman on September 18th, 2009 11:45 pm

    Hi Jen – Come back and see us! — We now have more signs for you at Fraunces Tavern Museum proclaiming the exhibit. But we are restrained by the building’s National Landmark status from going too over-the-top. You’ll have to go uptown to Times Square if you want more glitz. The photo you show was taken a while ago when the building was under repairs. By the way, the exhibit is not in the restaurant, but in the MUSEUM elsewhere in the connected buildings. Thanks for the coverage; our little Museum appreciates it. Best wishes -

  2. jen on September 22nd, 2009 5:26 am

    Anthony,

    Thank you for the comment. As the Magna Carta is apparently located on my morning walking route, I shall certainly have to stop in and see it. Perhaps in medieval clothing!

    Jen

  3. Dear Everyone, I Have Now Approved Your Blog Comments, and Thank You | Jen Is Famous on September 24th, 2009 8:03 am

    [...] Anthony from the Fraunces Tavern invited me to come see the Magna Carta and managed to get in a little dig — if I want more glitz, I should go to Times Square! Snap! Foundation of Constititonal law here. [...]

  4. Anthony Wellman on October 10th, 2009 2:21 am

    Jen – If you do plan to show up in medieval clothing please give us advance notice. We’ll have a camera ready. Will be on foot or horse?

  5. Anthony Wellman on October 10th, 2009 2:26 am

    (…That is, “will YOU be on foot or horse?”) There have been no stables in yon neighborhood for, aye, many a year.

  6. jen on October 12th, 2009 1:48 am

    My, you’re serious, aren’t you? Can I get a special guided tour?

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